SPRING IS IN THE AIR!
Hello again everyone, well Spring does finally seem to be in the air, with the sunshine peeping through the clouds. One of my favourite things are the little spring lambs bleeting and jumping around the fields. They are the cutest things ever. What a lovely time of year.
Speaking of lovely times I can reveal the secret I mentioned in the last blog.
One of the local residents in Hebden Bridge is a lady called Joan, and she really is a lady, always dressed immaculately from head to toe, she has wonderful hats that she embellishes herself plus lots of gorgeous scarves and outfits. Joan has a sunny outlook on life and always lifts your spirits when you meet her.
She makes pretty greetings cards as a hobby and we sell some of them in the shop for her. Jackie and I thought she might be in her late seventies or early eighties. We were amazed when Amber from the Copra Cafe came and told us she was arranging a surprise birthday party for Joans 90th.
Amber worked very hard in getting it all ready, making a real english tea party with dainty sandwiches, tea and scones with yummy cream and jam, the best had to be the Birthday cake Amber made, it was a scrumptiously moist sponge caked packed with strawberries and cream. Delicious! Amber worked wonders!
We supplied her with some of our collection of vintage china, union jack and happy birthday bunting and some fresh rose buds for sprinkling on the tables.
Amber had also tied a red ribbon across the door for Joan to cut on entering and her daughter and friends were all inside waiting to greet her.
We had closed an hour early on the day of the party and joined Amy from Ribbon Circus haberdashery and other shopkeepers there for the celebrations.
It was a wonderful party with some lovely memories and stories shared from her friends. One lady had written a lovely poem entitled "ninety words at ninety" to describe Joan, Jackie and I were wiping tears throughout the reading, it was very touching.
Joan was overwhelmed and absolutely thrilled and thoroughly enjoyed her day.
She came into the shop a few days later with a lovely card for us and thanked us for our present. We had given her one of our china cups and saucers filled with loose summer tea all wrapped up in cellophane complete with a pink ribbon, we also gave her a Nina Campbell writing set as she has friends all around the world and is always passing on the way to the post office. She truly is the Queen of Hebden Bridge!
We will try and get some photos of the party for the next blog.
I have added a few new photos of the shop. Featured is one of our pretty rag dolls, a polka dot peg bag, one of our recent interior books, (some new one soon) and a shot of a recent window display.
Another exciting event on the not too distant horizon is our shops first birthday. We are planning celebrations and will keep you posted.
I have had two new sewing requests lately, one for a victorian pinafore and mop cap, for a lovely little girl narrating a play at school and another for a bicycle basket cover. I think I will have to get a sewing machine for the shop soon.
Jackie has been busy getting our website organised and putting things in place for a few new ideas we are looking at to add to our collection of goodies.
A few people have been asking after Colin the Cockeral and he has become quite a talking point in the shop. In fact we have had people coming in and asking Jackie advice on keeping chickens and ducks.
We recently had a lady with a St Bernard dog come into the shop she couldnt believe we let her bring him in. We have now put a sign on the door saying "muddy boots and paws welcome in this shop".
It is rewarding to see people smile when they read it and we now have regular little four legged friends coming in.
So if you wish to pay us a visit you can always bring your dog too!
If I can get Jackie to sit still long enough, I will ask her to post another update from her favourite holiday spot, the views are amazing and her wellies will be on again very soon!
Have a Happy Easter!
Denise xx
